Overview

Thread: deadly silver strands that fall from the sky like rain, devouring every organic thing in their path - animals, plants, and people alike. Who would believe that such a horrible thing could exist? After all, it's been two hundred years since Thread supposedly fell on Pern. No one alive remembers that first onslaught. There's no sign of it anywhere in the world. Only the dragons, originally created to be a weapon against Thread, are still around to remind people that once before their population was ...

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Overview

Thread: deadly silver strands that fall from the sky like rain, devouring every organic thing in their path - animals, plants, and people alike. Who would believe that such a horrible thing could exist? After all, it's been two hundred years since Thread supposedly fell on Pern. No one alive remembers that first onslaught. There's no sign of it anywhere in the world. Only the dragons, originally created to be a weapon against Thread, are still around to remind people that once before their population was decimated, their hopes and dreams and livelihood almost destroyed forever. For two centuries the dragonriders have been practicing and training, passing down from generation to generation the Threadfighting techniques learned on the fly by their besieged ancestors. And most of the Lord Holders are prepared to protect their people, to provide sanctuary, to assemble groundcrews to search out and destroy any Thread that might be missed by the dragons soaring overhead. All but one. Even now the ominous signs are appearing: the violent winter storms and volcanic eruptions that are said to herald the approach of the Red Star and its lethal spawn. Impossibly, one stubborn Lord Holder, Chalkin of Bitra, refuses to believe - and that disbelief could spell disaster for all of Pern. So while the dragonriders desperately train to face an enemy they've never fought before, they and the other Lord Holders must find a way to deal with Chalkin and protect Bitra.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
- Publisher's Weekly

The 11th book of McCaffrey's popular Dragonriders of Pern series, just entering its 30th year, revives the menace of the deadly Thread, silver strands that rain from the sky and destroy all organic life. The planet Pern hasn't seen Thread for more than 250 years. But ominous signs-violent winter storms and sudden volcanic eruptions-herald the approach of the Red Star, believed to be the source of Threadfall. While loyal Dragonriders begin training in earnest, trying to sharpen Thread-fighting skills that haven't been needed for centuries (dragon's fire being the only effective weapon against Thread), the Lord Holders of the land must prepare Pern's inhabitants for the coming danger. A single stingy Lord's refusal to cooperate in the preparations, however, threatens the safety of everyone around him. Meanwhile, teachers toil to develop a new curriculum to preserve knowledge before it is lost forever. McCaffrey (The Dolphins of Pern) brings us another diverse cast of responsible, heroic good guys and dragons in a novel that's going to please fans old and new-and probably burn up the charts like dragon's fire. (Feb.)

Library Journal

In this long-awaited "Dragonriders of Pern" novel, the Dragonriders finally get to protect their world from the danger they've been anticipating for 200 years. When signs appear that Thread, the deadly silver strands that devour everything organic, will soon make an appearance, Dragonrider Chalkin's failure to believe in the danger of Threadfall threatens to destroy the entire civilization. Recommended for fantasy collections. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/95.]

School Library Journal

YAWhile not as good as the first "Dragonriders" novels, this 11th in the series comes closer than most of the more recent Pern books. It has been more than 250 years since the first Thread fall, but everything seems to indicate the imminent approach of the Red Star. The Dragonriders have been practicing and passing down knowledge for over two centuries to be prepared, but there are skeptics unwilling to believe. The worst of the lot is Lord Holder, Chalkin of Bitra, a greedy, self-centered, abusive leader. He refuses to take any action to prepare, threatening the survival of the planet, because all must work together to overcome Thread. Interesting, fleshed-out characters combined with a well-written story makes for a very good read. While this entry can stand alone, it is best read along with the other Pern novels, especially Dragonflight (1978) and Dragonquest (1979, both Ballantine).John Lawson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Kirkus Reviews

Another visit to planet Pern (The Dolphins of Pern, 1994, etc.), home of the famous Dragonriders, who—mounted on their genetically engineered, flying native dragons (with whom they form a mental bond)—battle the deadly corrosive lifeform known as Thread that periodically threatens the planet. Two centuries have passed since Thread last fell. The colonists have lost the last of their Earth-derived technology and now face the problem of how to ensure that their descendants know when to expect Threadfall and how to deal with it. As volcanic eruptions and terrible storms herald the approach of the baleful Red Star and its Thread, Dragonriders K'vin and Zulaya train their squadrons as best they can. But one Lord Holder, Chalkin of Bitra, rejects even the possibility of Threadfall (such an eventuality would disrupt his gambling habits), refuses to make any preparations, and continues to run his Hold like the worst of feudal fiefs. Elsewhere, inventor Clisser devises teaching ballads to educate future generations about Thread, and talented young artist Iantine falls in love with dragonrider Debera.

Comfortably cozy and domestic: an undramatic but meticulously detailed entry that should satisfy most dragonfans.

Related Subjects

Meet the Author

Anne McCaffrey is one of the world's most popular authors. Her first novel was published in l967. Since then, she has written dozens of books, of which there are more than twelve million copies in print. Before her success as a writer, she was involved in theatre. She directed the American premiere of Carl Orff's "Ludus de Nato Infante Mirificus in which she also played a witch.

McCaffrey lives in Wicklow County, Ireland, in a house of her own design, Dragonhold-Underhill, so named because she had to dig out a hill to build it. There she runs a private livery stable, raising and training her beloved horses for horse trials and showjumping.

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I have been reading this auther's books since I was a very young girl. I have read those that are not sci fi and enjoyed them all. I have just about every thing she has in print. They are old friends amd get reread and have been moved many times.

The Dragon Rider's of Pern series is one I highly praise. Each book stands alone . this world is filled with magical creatures,action and good over evil as well.

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Anonymous

Posted August 23, 2001

this book rules

i read this book and it was really good. its part of the dragonriders of pern series, which is the best.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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